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Angela Rayner gave the embassy two weeks to send additional details about its plans before approval decisionMinisters have asked China to send them the unredacted designs for its proposed super-embassy" in London or justify why some of the drawings have been blacked out.In a letter on Wednesday Angela Rayner, the housing secretary and deputy prime minister, gave the Chinese embassy two weeks to send additional details about its plans before a crunch decision over whether to approve them. Continue reading...

US president says great progress was made' as White House official says secondary sanctions on Russia still expected to be implemented on FridayWe are getting first pictures from inside the Kremlin showing Russia's Putin welcoming Witkoff for their talks.Earlier today, Witkoff also went for a walk through Zaryadye Park near the Kremlin with Kirill Dmitriev, the Russian president's envoy for investment and economic cooperation, AP reported, pointing to footage aired by Tass. Continue reading...

Victim's family say Roy Barclay has given no explanation for what the judge called an outburst of horrific violence'A man who beat a woman to death in a vicious and brutal attack" as she walked her dog, having previously been in prison for a similar assault on a man in his 80s, has been jailed for life.Anita Rose, 57, was found grievously wounded on 24 July 2024 in Brantham, Suffolk, with her dog tied to her leg by its lead to stop it running off. Her attacker was Roy Barclay, 56, who had been living rough to escape capture. Continue reading...

Former president can now see children and grandchildren without prior court approval, but phone and video ban remainsA Brazilian supreme court judge has eased the terms of Jair Bolsonaro's house arrest, allowing the far-right former president to receive visits from family members without prior judicial approval.The former paratrooper turned populist has been under house arrest since Monday, when Justice Alexandre de Moraes ordered the measure on the grounds that Bolsonaro had allegedly violated court orders. Continue reading...

13.5bn allocated for 10-year project to build longest single-span bridge in the world across the Strait of MessinaThe Italian government has given the final approval for the construction of a multi-billion-euro bridge linking Sicily to the mainland, a project that has been a topic of debate since at least the late 1960s but has been held back by a litany of concerns, including the huge cost, seismic risks and mafia infiltration.Giorgia Meloni's rightwing government has set aside 13.5bn to build what will be the longest single-span bridge in the world. A dream of Italy's late former prime minister Silvio Berlusconi and revived soon after Meloni's government came to power in 2022, the 3.7km bridge and its surrounding facilities are expected to take 10 years to build. Continue reading...

Khamis al-Ayyad, 40, of Chicago died of smoke inhalation after Israeli settlers in West Bank set homes and cars on fireThe family of Khamis al-Ayyad, a Palestinian American who died last week as a result of an Israeli settler attack in the occupied West Bank, has called for an investigation into his death, amid a rising number of US citizens killed in the territory.Ayyad, a 40-year-old father of five and Chicago resident, died from smoke inhalation on Thursday after Israeli settlers attacked the town of Silwad, outside Ramallah, setting homes and cars on fire. Ayyad fainted while trying to put out the fires, his brother said, and died on the way to the hospital. Continue reading...

Exclusive: Naomi Klein and Angela Davis among those demanding stop to attack on fundamental freedoms' of assembly and protest

Dr David Brophy claims new flag policy introduced in June was precisely in response to people like me hanging Palestinian flags'

Truck drivers have said delivering aid has become increasingly dangerous, while Jordan says Israeli settlers attacked a separate Gaza-bound convoy on WednesdayIsraeli officials have said Benjamin Netanyahu discussed a plan with the White House as it attempted to portray Hamas as having walked away from ceasefire negotiations, a claim denied by Hamas, which blamed Israel for the protracted impasse.While the Trump administration has not commented on the Netanyahu proposal, it has been given some credence by leaked comments made by the US envoy Steve Witkoff to Israeli hostage families at the weekend, suggesting his proposal for a ceasefire in exchange for the release of half of the remaining living hostages had failed.Both in Gaza and Lebanon, healthcare facilities have not only been directly targeted, but access to care has also been obstructed, including incidents where ambulances have been prevented from reaching the injured, or deliberately attacked.What is becoming clear is that healthcare workers and facilities are no longer afforded the protection guaranteed by international humanitarian law. Continue reading...

Roman restaurant association astonished' to see four ingredients, not three, listed on Good Food websiteOne of the UK's most popular food websites has cooked up a storm in Italy after allegedly botching a recipe for the traditional Roman pasta dish, cacio e pepe, drawing diplomatic representations from the main trade association for Italian restaurateur.A recipe on Good Food, formerly owned by the BBC, which continues to licence the web address bbcgoodfood.com - described cacio e pepe, a culinary institution in the Italian capital, as a store cupboard favourite" that could easily be whipped up for a speedy lunch" using four simple ingredients - spaghetti, pepper, parmesan and butter". Continue reading...

Israeli military leaders reportedly oppose Netanyahu's plans as the country faces growing diplomatic isolation

Exclusive: British woman living in Spain says she felt very vulnerable' when courier returned to her houseAn Amazon customer who complained to the online retailer about a delivery driver coming into her home and masturbating in her bedroom is demanding to know how the man was allowed to return to her house two days later.Spanish police have taken a suspected semen sample allegedly left by the courier as part of a continuing investigation into the incident. Continue reading...

The Australian Automobile Association tested vehicles from Tesla, BYD, Kia and Smart in bid to give consumers more accurate information

Crown argues Wright did not properly record helicopter flying hours and was concerned that crash investigations would uncover that

Warwickshire police chief publishes letter to council leader saying force did not and will not cover up such criminality'Police have hit back at Reform UK's claim of a cover-up" over the immigration status of two Afghan men being prosecuted in connection with the alleged rape of a 12-year-old girl.Warwickshire police said they had asked the Home Office to confirm the full immigration status of Ahmad Mulakhil and Mohammad Kabir, who have been charged in the case. Continue reading...

Australia's solicitor general tells high court Russia should not be paid compensation for problems they cause themselves'

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Passengers flying with Qantas from Auckland or Queenstown in New Zealand are eligible and must complete declaration digitally before they fly

Vote on conduct of independent MP delayed until investigation into his handling of information about police chief Karen Webb completed

Travel to Antarctica during the southern winter is restricted to emergencies with crews having to navigate extreme conditions and icy landingsThe New Zealand air force has evacuated three people from a US research base in Antarctica in a high-risk operation that required navigating through extreme weather and round-the-clock darkness.The air force said on Wednesday the United National Science Foundation requested a medical evacuation for three of its staff members based at the McMurdo Station, one of whom needed urgent medical care. Continue reading...

Liberal insists he will govern for four years but authority to be tested within weeks when parliament returns

Thirty rallies held across Queensland after more than 50,000 union members vote to strike for first time since 2009

Magistrate Evan Hughes said trainer Liandra Gray had already experienced a form of punishment from unwanted media attention' over the case

On 80th anniversary of atomic bombing, Kazumi Matsui urges younger people to recognise inhumane' consequences of nuclear weapons as a deterrentThe mayor of Hiroshima has led calls for the world's most powerful countries to abandon nuclear deterrence, at a ceremony to mark 80 years since the city was destroyed by an American atomic bomb.As residents, survivors and representatives from 120 countries gathered at the city's peace memorial park on Wednesday morning, Kazumi Matsui warned that the conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East had contributed to a growing acceptance of nuclear weapons. Continue reading...

Advertising revenue at division that includes the Australian, Daily Telegraph and Herald Sun down 5%

Watchdog says all parties, including trustees, patrons and chair Sophie Chandauka, should not have had row in publicThe Charity Commission has criticised Prince Harry for allowing a row with the chair of his African charity to play out publicly", as the watchdog cleared him of racism.The prince was engaged in a public war of words earlier this year with the chair of the Sentebale charity, Dr Sophie Chandauka, after his resignation as a patron. Continue reading...

Analysis suggests long-term damage to wellbeing can be worse than for children experiencing physical abuseParents who ridicule, threaten or humiliate their children risk leaving them with a 64% higher chance of having poor mental health as an adult, a study has found.The research also found physical abuse experienced among the research participants reduced over time, while verbal abuse increased. Continue reading...

Keir Starmer says 88m package will help tackle trend of young people becoming disconnected from their communities'Youth clubs and after-school activities in England will receive a funding injection of 88m as ministers try to get more children away from smartphones and computer screens.The package, which Keir Starmer announced on Tuesday, is intended to give pupils access to sport, outdoor activities, art, music, debating and volunteering. Continue reading...

Prospectus lists opportunities for businesses to meet MPs and ministers and shape the discussion', says reportA Labour thinktank has been offering sponsorship packages where businesses can meet and influence MPs and ministers, according to a report.The Labour Infrastructure Forum (LIF) has been offering companies the chance to sponsor events at which they can meet key policymakers" in private and shape the discussion", the Times said. Continue reading...

Poor safety practices, lack of oversight and toxic workplace blamed for implosion in which five people diedInadequate safety practices, deliberate efforts to avoid oversight and a toxic workplace culture" were among the factors that led to the 2023 implosion of the Titan submersible, the US Coast Guard has said in a damning report that described the disaster as a preventable tragedy".The submersible was on a commercial voyage to explore the wreck of the Titanic when it disappeared in the Atlantic, leading to the deaths of all five people on board. The ensuing search captured headlines around the world for days as it evolved from a potential rescue mission to a recovery operation. Continue reading...

Lee Claydon, who died after reportedly falling from upper tier at Wembley Stadium, remembered as lovely bloke'The father of a lifelong" Oasis fan who fell to his death at the band's concert at Wembley Stadium has said his whole family is devastated.Lee Claydon, 45, a landscape gardener from Bournemouth, Dorset, died on Saturday after reportedly falling from an upper tier at the stadium. Continue reading...

Israeli PM to convene security cabinet as local media reports he is inclining towards expanding the offensive and even seizing entire territoryHere are some of the latest images sent to us over the newswires from Gaza:Reuters is reporting that Israeli tanks pushed into central Gaza this morning but it was not clear if the move was part of a larger ground assault. Continue reading...

Man, who had a false identity and had never worked in a hospital before, left Ruth Szymankiewicz unwatched despite her vulnerabilityA support worker with a false identity who left a vulnerable 14-year-old girl unwatched in a secure psychiatric ward during his first shift had never worked in a hospital before, the teenager's inquest has heard.Following the death of Ruth Szymankiewicz, police found the support worker had stolen" the false identity, had a fake passport and was able to get the shift at the hospital through an agency after brief training.In the UK and Ireland, Samaritans can be contacted on freephone 116 123, or email jo@samaritans.org or jo@samaritans.ie. In the US, you can call or text the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline on 988, chat on 988lifeline.org, or text HOME to 741741 to connect with a crisis counselor. In Australia, the crisis support service Lifeline is 13 11 14. Other international helplines can be found at befrienders.org Continue reading...

Experts say the relics at Piazza Venezia appear to resemble a multistorey complex of homes and shopsThe remains of homes believed to have been lived in by working-class people around the time of the early Roman empire have been found by workers building an underground station in the city's historic centre.The relics are the first to emerge from beneath the bustling Piazza Venezia since work began in 2023 on the station that will form part of the Italian capital's Metro C underground line. Continue reading...

Resignation of rising star of People's party prompts others to revise entries about educational qualificationsIt began as a confession by a rising star in Spain's conservative People's party that her CV was not quite all it seemed. Last month Noelia Nunez, 33, a member of the PP's steering committee, was forced to admit that she had never in fact completed her double degree in law and public administration. She apologised, and stood down - a move rarely seen in the country.Since then, however, Nunez's contrition seems to have launched a trend, with a wave of mea culpas from politicians of various parties rushing to revise - downwards - their educational achievements. Some have even resigned, emulating Nunez, who said: I apologise to anyone who feels disappointed but I also believe it's not enough to say sorry". Continue reading...

Gagauzia governor Yevgenia Gutsul funnelled undeclared funds to now-banned political party, prosecutors said

Amid weaker consumer confidence and rising wage costs, fast-food firm says market has become tougherDomino's Pizza said the takeaway market had become tougher" as it blamed weaker consumer confidence in the run-up to the autumn budget and rising wage costs for lower-than-expected sales and a slump in profits.After a drop of nearly 15% in half-year profits, the company now expected full-year underlying profits of between 130m and 140m, about 6m below analysts' expectations. Continue reading...

Officials said prime minister was planning offensive to fully occupy Gaza, but resistance reveals splits in government

Far-right activist was detained at Luton airport on Monday a week after incident at St Pancras station in LondonThe far-right activist known as Tommy Robinson has been released on bail by police after being arrested on suspicion of grievous bodily harm.Robinson, 42, was detained on Monday evening at Luton airport after a man was allegedly assaulted at a London railway station a week earlier. Continue reading...

Sales of eight allotment sites approved since Labour took power as councils seek to fund day-to-day spending

CEO Sall Grover challenges earlier court finding and claims she did not know Roxanne Tickle was transgender

Gregory Vaughan, 72, and his partner Kim Worner, 66, were flying with their pet dog in the aircraft that departed George Town on Saturday

Airline tries to soften blow by releasing 400,000 new Classic Reward seats across its international and domestic flights

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Leader Rhun ap Iorwerth has begun a tour that will take in every Welsh constituency before May's Senedd electionsIt is fair to say that Rhun ap Iorwerth, the leader of Plaid Cymru, was on safe ground at the national Eisteddfod in Wrexham this week. More than once, festivalgoers interrupted his interview with the Guardian to shake his hand or take a selfie.Ap Iorwerth has just embarked on a nationwide listening tour" during which he will visit every Welsh constituency, beginning in Wrexham, before the Senedd elections next May. Continue reading...

Emergency measures bailed out jails at last minute as No 10 refused to cut prisoner numbers until cliff edge' reached, former watchdog reportsThe criminal justice system was within days of collapse on three occasions before being bailed out by last-minute emergency measures", an independent review by a former prisons watchdog has found.Dame Anne Owers said the prison system, under pressure from overcrowding, was in crisis" between autumn 2023 and the summer of 2024, but No 10 under Rishi Sunak refused to cut the numbers in jail until the next predictable cliff edge". Continue reading...

Draft backed by over a dozen Democrats says Palestinian rights as a people and nation' must be urgently upheldMore than a dozen Democratic members of Congress have signed on to a letter that urges the Trump administration to recognise Palestinian statehood, in a draft copy shared with the Guardian.Congressman Ro Khanna of California is leading the letter addressed to the president and secretary of state Marco Rubio, and is joined by several House progressives, including Greg Casar of Texas, Pramila Jayapal of Washington, and Maxwell Frost of Florida. Continue reading...

Bolsonaro accused of breaching ban imposed amid fears he may abscond ahead of trial, while US says judge attempting to silence opposition'In a move immediately condemned by the US, a Brazilian supreme court judge has ordered the house arrest of former president Jair Bolsonaro for breaching preventative measures" that were imposed ahead of his trial for an alleged coup attempt.According to the ruling on Monday by Justice Alexandre de Moraes, the far-right leader breached a ban on using social media which was imposed last month, when he was also ordered to wear an electronic ankle tag. Continue reading...

Some asylum seekers will be sent back across Channel for first time under treaty agreed with French presidentThe UK will begin detaining people who arrive on small boats and returning some to France within days" after the EU gave the green light to a deal agreed with the French president, Emmanuel Macron.The treaty between France and the UK will allow the Home Office to return some asylum seekers back across the Channel for the first time in exchange for accepting others directly from France via a safe route. Continue reading...

Hundreds could join weekend rally in support of proscribed group as 300 UK Jewish figures urge PM to lift ban